GB2335176A

GB2335176A - Apparatus and method for packaging paving slabs

Info

Publication number: GB2335176A
Application number: GB9903335A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Smythe; Kevin Fowler
Original assignee: ATLAS STONE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ATLAS STONE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-11
Filing date: 1999-02-16
Publication date: 1999-09-15
Also published as: GB9903335D0

Abstract

Apparatus for packaging paving slabs 17 includes two elongate support members 10, 11 of substantially L-shaped cross-section, each having a base member 12, and a side member 13 upstanding from the base member. The support members are arranged in use in spaced parallel relationship, with the two side members remote from one another, so that they may receive paving slabs supported on their edges by the two base members. The support members also include means 15 for raising the base members above a support surface to enable the forks of a fork lift truck to pass below the base members. Support means are also provided, eg rails 16 or blocks, for supporting one or more paving slabs vertically so that other paving slabs supported by the support members can leans towards, and be supported by, the vertically supported paving slabs. A band 18 may be wrapped around the apparatus when filled with paving slabs to lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal extent of the two elongate support members, or shrink wrapping may be placed over the support means and the paving slabs. Braces 14 may be provided to prevent paving slabs from sliding off the support members.

Description

AAPPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF PACKAGING PAVING SLABS 2335176 This

invention relates to apparatus for and a method of packaging paving slabs.

Paving slabs made by wet-cast, moulding techniques have edges which are slightly tapered in the sense that they together define a tmeated pyramid. This is to allow the slabs to be removed from the moulds. However, because the edges of the slabs are not perpendicular to the major faces of the slabs, the slabs will not stand upright on their edges.

It is known to package paving slabs on a pallet having a headboard upstanding from one end of the pallet. The paving slabs are arranged side by side on the pallet at a small angle to the vertical. The headboard prevents the paving slabs from failing over.

These known pallets are, however, expensive to make and are space consuming during transport and storage when empty.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for packaging paving slabs, comprising two elongate support members of L-shaped or substantially L-shaped cross-section, the support members each having a base member and a side member upstanding from the base member, the support -2 members being arranged in use in spaced parallel relationship, with the two side members remote from one another, to receive paving slabs supported on their edges by the two base members, the support members also having means for raising the base members above a support surface to enable the forks of a fork lift truck to pass below the base members and means for supporting one or more paving slabs vertically so that other paving slabs supported by the support members can lean towards, and be supported by, the vertically supported paving slabs.

The supporting means are preferably located midway or substantially midway between opposite ends of each elongate support member so that other paving slabs can lean towards, and be supported by, opposite sides of the vertically supported paving slabs. The supporting means may comprise two parallel, spaced apart, vertically or substantially vertically extending rails on the side member of each elongate support member.

Preferably, the support members also comprise means for preventing paying slabs sliding off the ends of the two base members.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a 20 method of packaging paving slabs, comprising the steps of:(a) taking the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, (b) placing the two elongate support members in spaced parallel relationship, placing one or more paving slabs on the base members of the support members so as to be vertically supported by the supporting means, and (d) placing other paving slabs on the base members of the support members so as to lean towards, and be supported by, the vertically supported paving slabs.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of wrapping a band around the slabs to lie in a plane paraBel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the two elongate support members. Shrink wrapping may then be placed over the paving slabs and the support members.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- and slabs.

Figure 1 is an end view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of one of the support members shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 fully laden with paving Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown therein comprises two elongate support members 10 and 11, typically formed of timber and of L- shaped cross section.

Each support member 10, 11, comprises an elongate base member 12 and an elongate side member 13 upstanding from one elongate edge of the base member 12.

Braces 14 are provided at opposite ends of the two support members 10, 11 between the base member 12 and the side member 13 to give added strength to the support members and to serve as stops for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.

Two transversely extending blocks 15 are secured to the underside of each base member 12 in spaced relationship to raise the base member 12 above a support surface to enable the forks of a fork lift truck to pass below the base member 12.

Ideally, the two blocks 15 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the forks of a fork lift truck.

Each side member 13 is also provided on its inner face with two spaced apart vertically extending rails 16. These rails 16 are spaced apart by a distance just slightly greater than the thickness of two paving slabs 17 and are, preferably, located mid-way between opposite ends of each side member 13.

In use, the two support members 11 and 12 are arranged in spaced parallel i 1 -5relationship as shown in Figure 1 with the two side members 13 remote from one another. Two paving slabs 17 are then placed back to back on the base members 12 of the two support members 10 and 11 between the rails 16 of each support member. The rails 16 support these two paving slabs 17 vertically.

Other paving slabs are then placed on the support members 10 and 11, one at a time, so as to lean towards the paving slabs 17 supported by the rails 16. One paving slab is placed on one side of the vertically supported paving slabs and one is then placed on the opposite side of the two vertically supported paving slabs so that the forces acting on the vertically supported paying slabs are substantially equalised.

This process is continued until the support members 10 and 11 are fully laden as shown in Figure 3. The braces 14 prevent the end slabs from sliding off the support members 10 and 11.

A plastics or steel band 18 is then wrapped around the slabs 17 to lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal extent of the two elongate support members 10 and 11 and the two ends of the band 18 are secured together by conventional means. Shrink wrapping may then be placed over the paving slabs 17 and the support members 10 and 11 to give added support to the structure for transportation and to 20 protect the paving slabs.

The apparatus will enable the paving slabs to be supported when the shrink wrapping and band 18 have been removed by virtue of the fact that the central vertically supported slabs will support the other slabs.

The support members 10 and 11 are far cheaper to manufacture, and occupy far less space during storage and transportation when unladen, than the pallets used hitherto.

The above embodiment is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the rails 16 could be spaced by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a single paving slab so that only one slab is supported vertically and other slabs are loaded individually and alternately on opposite sides of the single vertically supported paving slab. Timber straps could be secured between the outer ends of each block 15 and the outer face of its respective side member 13 to replace the braces 14 or to give even greater strength to the support members. The rails 16 could be replaced by spaced apart vertical blocks secured to both the base member and side member of each support member. Also one of the support members could be given an extended width. This is particularly advantageous if it is difficult to get the forks of a fork lift truck into the far side of the pack.

1 1

Claims

1. Apparatus for packaging paying slabs, comprising two elongate support members of L-shaped or substantially L-shaped cross-section, the support members each having a base member and a side member upstanding from the base member, the support members being arranged in use in spaced parallel relationship, with the two side members remote from one another, to receive paving slabs supported on their edges by the two base members, the support members also having means for raising the base members above a support surface to enable the forks of a fork lift truck to pass below the base members and means for supporting one or more paving slabs vertically so that other paving slabs supported by the support members can lean towards, and be supported by, the vertically supported paying slabs.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means are located mid-way or substantially mid-way between opposite ends of each elongate support member so that other paving slabs can lean towards, and be supported by, opposite sides of the vertically supported paving slabs.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the supporting means comprises two parallel, spaced apart, vertically or substantially vertically extending rails on the side member of each elongate support member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the supporting means comprises two parallel, spaced apart, vertically or substantially vertically extending blocks secured to both the base member and the side member of each support member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 5 support members also comprise means for preventing paving slabs sliding off the ends of the two base members.

6. Apparatus for packaging paving slabs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

is

7. A method of packaging paving slabs, comprising the steps of:- (a) taking the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, (b) placing the two elongate support members in spaced parallel relationship, (c) placing one or more paving slabs on the base members of the support members so as to be vertically supported by the supporting means, and (d) placing other paving slabs on the base members of the support members so as to lean towards, and be supported by, the vertically supported paving slabs.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of wrapping a band around the slabs to lie in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the 1 1 longitudinal extent of the two elongate support members.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein shrink wrapping is then placed over the paving slabs and the support members.

10. A method of packaging paving slabs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.